Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Williamsburg Slide Show Du Jour: Inside Engine 212
Filed under: Williamsburg
This weekend I met my good friend and community activist extraordinaire, Phil DePaulo. After having lunch he asked if I’d like to check out the interior of Engine 212 (also known as The Peoples Firehouse)Â at 136 Wythe Avenue. He told me they were preparing for a one-night event and this was a very unique opportunity. Being a maven of things old, dusty and decayed I thought about this for maybe nanosecond and enthusiastically replied:
Hell yeah!
Follows is a sampling of photographs from my experience. Enjoy!
I can hardly wait to see this place restored back to its former and all-too-well deserved glory— how about you?
Miss Heather
Photo Credits: Radiator photograph by Mr. Heather
Dung Of The Day: The Broken Windows Theory
Yesterday I wrote about the urban rusticism/added value the Loft 305’s neighbors have seen fit to give their rather intimidating and big friend. Today I had the pleasure of walking by this edifice I call “Fort Apache the ‘Point” again today. I noted a couple gawking at the hanging wires and graffiti gracing the property.
I saw the previous after I discovering this smashed out window (as seen to the right) which can be found at ground level. Don’t believe me? Click here and see for yourself. Not only did the wizards behind this project see fit to place windows within easy peeping, pissing and vomiting distance (and for the record I have seen the latter two in abundance on this strip of road along with blood) but they saw fit to enable their tenants open them. My theory is they wanted their clients to get some fresh air. This is a sterling idea in principle but when one factors in realty it doesn’t work very well. The perfume of taxi garage across the street, waste treatment plant one block away and the automotive exhaust (only the boulevard called McGuinness can provide) will be the only air these people will breathe. With neighbors like this why quit smoking? Hell, I’d even advocate taking up the habit just to cover up the stench. One month’s free rent and no broker fee will give you plenty of money to buy ciggies for just this purpose. Marketing genius! But I digress.
Back to the purpose of this post: today’s dung of the day.
A shitpop lollipoop* as found on the Huron Street side of the Lofts 305. Yum.
Miss Heather
*Thanks Copyranter!
Greenpoint Pay Phones Du Jour: Off The Hook
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
From Calyer Street.
Miss Heather
Great Minds Think Alike: Forgotten NY Does Greenpoint…
AVENUE, that is. Shortly after I took a jaunt down Greenpoint Avenue here in the Garden Spot my buddy Kevin over at Forgotten NY decided to write a “Street Scenes” feature about the wonderful things to be found on this thoroughfare both in its namesake ‘nabe and beyond! I was particularly moved by his coverage of what we Greenpointers fondly call the “Shit Tits” (as seen at left):
Anaerobic Digestion Boobs
Well, we’ve seen the udders … here are the boobs …These somewhat disturbing objects at North Henry Street are called digester eggs. Through a process called anaerobic digestion they reduce the volume of sludge (what’s left of sewage after debris and liquid are removed) by nearly half. The egg shape is a space-efficient and minimal maintenance European design. The green thing in between the eggs is an elevator, in case you want to see what’s going on up there.
I never, EVER thought I would see the day Kevin Walsh would use the word boobs on Forgotten NY. I suppose I am rubbing off on him. This may or may not be a good thing but I can state with 100% certainty that this post is well worth reading. Check it out!
Miss Heather
P.S.: For more information/infotainment about the Newtown Waste Treatment Facility check out my piece over at the Poop Report.
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Every Sperm Is Sacred
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
From Kent Street.
Miss Heather
Because I Can: Exquisite On Monitor Street
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
This one’s for you, Bob.
Miss Heather
Vollies Needed For The North Brooklyn Story Project
This item comes courtesy of my buddy over at Brooklyn11211. He writes:
…NAG (Neighbors Allied for Good Growth) has been doing a series of town hall meetings over the past few months trying to get people engaged on different aspect of life and activism in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. One of the projects to come out this is the North Brooklyn Story Project, which seeks to compile an oral history of the neighborhood and its denizens. They’re having a meeting for volunteers Wednesday, March 11, in anticipation of a training at Brooklyn Historical Society later this month.
I’d appreciate it if you could post something on this for us.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Blight Me
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
INTRODUCTION
“Blight Me” was a feature on the Gowanus Lounge I was both very fond of and had the dubious honor of making numerous contributions to. Before Robert Guskind’s untimely death I had planned to run the following either here or contribute it to his site. These photographs are therefore just over a week old. Not that anything has really changed at this location. Given the Department of Buildings inability and/or unwillingness to police death traps (such as the following) I suspect this eyesore (which hails from 156 India Street) will grace my fair ‘nabe for a very, very long time.
On March 4, 2009 The Queens Courier wrote:
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) might as well be renamed the Department of Blight. Blight is what they allow to exist in this city, blight is what they allow to be built in many Queens neighborhoods, and blight is what the DOB fails to remove and demolish even though they are the agency that can do just that.
This was written in reference to a house in Whitestone, Queens. However, it is equally applicable here in Greenpoint.
Case in point: 156 India Street. I have written about this building before. Its tenants were forced to evacuate this building and the tenement located behind it in May 2008 because they were deemed too dangerous for human habitation. Among the reasons cited were:
(HAZARDOUS) FAILURE TO MAINTAIN EXTERIOR BUILDING WALL. DEFECT IS:REAR WALL IS ROTTED,DEFECTIVE AND PULLING AWAY FROM WOOD FRAME. FIRE ESCAPE IS IN DANGER DUE TO AFFECTED REAR WALL AND COULD DISLODGE IF USED
It should also be noted that joists in the cellar were found to be rotted and it 45 degree angles. Inadequate fire-proofing in the cellar and around the boiler were also noted. The owner, Kevin Nealis, was ordered to make repairs. He has since been served a number of summons and notice for inspection.
With predictable results.
I have said it before and I will say it again.
What is the point of having rules and regulations…
if they are not enforced?
Taking a pro-active stance on buildings such as 156 India Street is not only a matter of principle; it is also protects the quality of life for the neighborhood as a whole. Derelict properties are a magnet for squatters, ne’er do wells and people whose intentions are anything but nice. What’s more, it’s bad for business.
Would you pay $1,800+ a month to have a balcony whose “scenic views” include this eyesore?
Miss Heather
P.S.: I want to give special thanks Queens Crap for bringing this article from the Queens Courier to my attention. Thanks!
Mark Your Calendars: The Greenpoint Mac-Off
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
When I saw the flier for this in the window of t.b.d. yesterday I knew this was going to be on my “to do” list. Now throw in an offer to be one of the “celebrity judges” (imagine that: me, a simple Greenpoint housewife who lives two blocks away from the largest waste treatment plant on the East coast and works at a junk shop. Dreams really do come true folks.) and I was all over this like white on rice. So you can imagine my delight when Lisa, the woman publicizing this event, was kind enough to forward me the press release for this event. Here it is:
THE GREAT GREENPOINT MAC OFF
NEW YORK – Four of Greenpoint’s best bars will be participating in the first Great Greenpoint Mac Off to be held beginning at 4pm on Sunday, March 22nd. The pub crawl offers customers the opportunity to experience North Brooklyn’s diverse offerings of the comfort food staple, macaroni and cheese, while benefiting from drink specials from each establishment.
Starting at 4pm at Red Star chef, John Manzo serves up his menu’s Mac ‘N Cheese of the day. At its own pace, the crawl moves to The Habitat where chef/owner Ashley Engmann offers samples from their standard menu. Participants then cross the road to The Mark Bar, the tried and true Greenpoint watering hole celebrating its 5th year, where Chef Michael Diprima of Lamb and Jaffey and Dream Cuisine Catering fame serves the group from their all day menu. The crawl moves one block to t.b.d. Brooklyn to receive a final sample prepared by chef Cody Utzman, owner of local Cali-Mex eatery Papacitos and the soon to open Brooklyn Standard (! — ed. note)
Judging takes place at 8pm at t.b.d. Brooklyn by local celebrity judges giving their own critiques of the fare from each bar while customer voting will determine the winner of the highly coveted title of Greenpoint’s Best Mac & Cheese. Expect hot tempers and tough competition for this good-natured prize. The crowd remains at t.b.d. for the after-party with entertainment provided by local Greenpoint DJs Plant Y Junk.
The Great Greenpoint Mac Off
Sunday, March 22, 2009 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Red Star
37 Greenpoint Avenue
(718) 349-0149.
The Habitat
988 Manhattan Avenue
(718) 383-5815
The Mark Bar
1025 Manhattan Avenue
(718) 349-2340
t.b.d. Brooklyn
244 Franklin Street
(718) 349-6727
Not only is this event totally free— each bar will provide a free sample of their signature mac and cheese— but a different drink special will be available at each bar. Hot damn!
Miss Heather
Thought Of The Day
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
If you are going to build a ginormous “luxury” apartment building/fortress on McGuinness Boulevard (and for the record I find this to be an excruciatingly foolish thing to do) it might behoove you to remove the graffiti from the entrance before having an open house.
Somehow “kook” written in pink spray paint and a bunch of wires dangling from a wall do not strike me as being a very good selling tool— but what would I know? Perhaps this is some new marketing tactic I don’t know about?
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
You must be logged in to post a comment.